Design Repositories
and Product Representation for Collaborative Product Development
Ram
D. Sriram, Simon Szykman
This presentation will discuss the role of the concept of design repositories in next generation collaborative product development systems. An overview of the core artifact representation will be provided, followed by a discussion of various aspects of the NIST Design Repository Project. In addition, the core product representation used in a related project-the Knowledge-based Interoperability project-will be discussed. An interactive scenario being developed in conjunction with researchers at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) will be described. The objective of this scenario is to demonstrate the integration of composable simulation research at CMU and design repository research at NIST. The scenario involves the addition of behavior model information to design repositories, and the retrieval of individual models fragments associated with different parts of a product. These model fragments are then assembled into a simulation of the overall product behavior in order to evaluate the designed product against desired function and performance requirements.
What Complex Systems
Research Can Teach Us About Collaborative Design
Mark Klein, Hiroki Sayama, Peyman
Faratin, Yaneer Bar-Yam
Collaborative design is challenging because strong interdependencies between design issues make it difficult to converge on a single design that satisfies these dependencies and is acceptable to all participants. Complex systems research has much to offer to the understanding of these dynamics. This paper describes some insights from the complex systems perspective.
A Method for
Specification of Collaborative Interfaces through the Use of Scenarios
Anamaria Montandon Dumont, Carlos
Alberto Marques Pietrobon
The complexity and the extension of tasks in the world today demand an extensive interaction among people with different knowledge backgrounds, who need to work in cooperation, aiming at a common goal. In this paper, we present a method to model the tasks and actions that a group of users carries out when working cooperatively through a computational system interface. For this purpose, we use scenarios for requirements gathering for user-cooperative interfaces. Along with the method, we propose the use of a notation that was developed to support interaction characteristics of users in cooperative work.
An Event and Service
Interacting Model and Event Detection Based on the Broker/Service Model
Ping-peng Yuan, Gang Chen,
Jin-xiang Dong, Wei-li Han
In distributed systems based on B/SM, events and event-condition-action rules are the fundamental metaphors for defining and enforcing system. Processing entities execute behavior by reacting to and generating new events. It is important that event semantics are explicit. Although a lot of research has concentrated on event semantics, there still exists potentially semantic ambiguity that is unacceptable in some circumstances. In this paper, we propose an event model and incorporate an interaction group identifier into it. We emphasize that the semantics is a key to capture the actual meaning of events in real life, in which the same composite event patterns may imply totally different semantic meanings. Based on this observation, a graph- ESIG (Event and Service Interacting Graph) and ESIC (Event and Service Interacting Chain), which are constructed according to ECA-Rules, are proposed to trace events. ESIG greatly enhanced the expressive power to allow event detection correctly, which matches situations in reality. Finally, we develop an event detection algorithm that uses ESIG and ESIC.
The Design and
Implementation of a Real-time Walkthrough System Supporting Cooperative
Manipulation
Hongmei Sun, Shenquan Liu
In DIS, simulated scenes with extreme complexity become much more common, which will definitely advance much higher requirements on both real-time interaction and cooperative manipulation among group members. Aiming at this, we propose a kind of schedule based parallel processing model, in which the parallel processing of the whole rendering pipeline and cooperation among members are combined together effectively. The constitution of our model and its implementation are discussed in detail in our paper. This model has been successfully applied in the development of OADS, and its satisfying results, including the fine image, real-time performance, good workload balance at the server, user friendly cooperative interface, and so on, illustrate its efficiency.
Supporting
Cooperation with Off-the-Shelf Applications in Wired and Wireless Networks
Federico Bergenti, Agostino Poggi,
Matteo Somacher
This paper presents a cooperative platform that allows the sharing of information, as well as the interactive use of different kinds of application, in a synchronous mode. Access to the collaborative sessions is possible from different kinds of terminals and networks (fixed or mobile). In particular, we address Web users and mobile users with sufficient bandwidth. The platform is based on the centralised sharing of an off-the-shelf application that relies on a collaborative version of the graphics libraries used in Java and Microsoft Windows. A first prototype of the platform has been experimented by Ph.D. students during a seminary distributed across Italy.
Supporting Group
Awareness in Collaborative Design
Yan Liu, Yuanchun Shi, Guangyou Xu
Different from multi-user database management systems, CSCW systems must support group awareness explicitly, namely that participants should perceive the presence of each other during the process of cooperating, which is essential for effective collaboration. In this paper we analyze and compare several means of supporting sensibility, then investigate the model of collaborative design and suggest achieving group awareness by product data which forms the foundation of relationships among designers. The information model and the shared workspace organization of CECAD (Collaborative Environment for Computer-Aided Design, a prototype system we developed) are presented and its group awareness supporting mechanism is described in succession.
Improving the
Selectivity of Awareness Information in Groupware Applications
José Maria N. David, Marcos R. S.
Borges
Many awareness mechanisms in groupware systems have been searching to reduce the amount of information found in the workspace where activities develop. Several approaches and proposals found in literature are based on filter usage for best identifying and presenting information according to the users' choices or previous ways of working. The goal of this paper is to present a strategy to both guide the selection of information from the Group Memory and support coordination actions in groupware applications. This proposal is based on filters and awareness profiles established by the participants in groupware activities.
Consistency Control
in Synchronous Cooperative Work
Lei Yu, Zongkai Lin, Yuchai Guo,
Shouxun Lin
Consistency control is an important research field in CSCW. In this paper, we present an improved algorithm of concurrency control based on operation transformation. Our fastAdOPT algorithm improves other algorithms in two main aspects. First, we improve the transforming efficiency through saving original form of operations in request log and through the special process of "intimate preceding" operations. Secondly, it can realize natural interactive mode through not using Undo/Redo operation.
Research on
Cooperative Template Design
Xiao-ping Liu, Xiao-yun Liu,
Zheng-feng Hou, Xiao-rong Du
The design method based on template uses ways of decomposing, combination, replacement and merger of template for agility and variation of model in entirety and local design. About template authors had a deep research in the fields of mechanical CAD and engineering CAD systems. Based on these works, a concept of cooperative template is presented in order to control and manage design tasks on the net. It can inherit components that have been designed, and give a nimble response, for new projects if template technology is introduced into the public area of cooperative design. This paper discusses work processes of template, and its elements based on cooperative mechanism. It combines lock and semaphore functions and expands TDL (Template Design Language) using cooperating primitive. Users are allowed to compete about design elements in the framework of visualization. Some technical problems about XML and JSP+Java Servlet are also discussed.
X-Arc Spatial Data
Integration in the SPeCS Collaborative Design Framework
Gustavo da R. B. Pinto, Sergio
Palma J. Medeiros, Julia Celia M. Strauch, Jano Moreira de Souza, Carlete R. F.
Marques
X-Arc is a web-based architecture for the integration and sharing of spatial data sources in XML (eXtensible Markup Language) format that applies metadata and mediation concepts. It is an important component of SPeCS (Spatial Decision Collaborative Support System), an architecture which intends to support the aspects of multi-criteria spatial analysis within a distributed GIS with tools that can help a group cope with all activities in this kind of project. In X-Arc framework, the availability and computing capabilities of data sources, as well as the heterogeneity of its data (structure, format, type and metadata) are explored by the data mediation and publishing services. Through SpeCS, the users can cooperate, collaborate and coordinate their integration activities during their spatial analysis. This paper presents a framework that supports the georeferencing of argumentations and allows transparent access to heterogeneous data sources involving the members of the design team in a spatial collaborative context.
Managing Dynamic
Shared State in Virtual Space for Collaborative Design
Lilly Li, Chenhui Yang, Tangqiu Li
In building the virtual world for distributed collaborative design, the senses of sharing the world and cooperation between physically distributed hosts and users are usually achieved by maintained dynamic shared state. To make those events that happen in another physical location be virtually "seen" by other participants, communication through network is indispensable. Because of the limited network bandwidth and limited CPU resources reserved for communication in a virtual world simulation, reducing communication traffic is a critical issue. In this paper, we present an efficient model, improved "Lazy model", to reduce communication for maintaining dynamic shared state. After that, we propose an approximate method using AOI, Area of Interest, to enhance the implementation of this model.
Collaborative
Technique Integration in Knowledge-Based Systems
Kuo-Wei Su, Thu-Hua Liu,
Sheue-Ling Hwang
In this research, a methodology of Collaborative Technique Integration (CTI) is developed to implement the proposed strategy for people working in the maintenance domain. This conceptual model, CTI, includes system hazard assessment, knowledge-based expert system, and web-based collaborative environment. The system enables administrators to share the relative maintenance information, and then may prevent or mitigate human errors. Such a hybrid approach could serve as a guide for other similar logistic systems to prevent maintenance errors, and for the different kinds of high technological industrial that needs to manage a domain-specific knowledge.
On Sharing of Objects
in Concurrent Design
Aiko Frank, Bernhard Mitschang
Sharing data is an important aspect in distributed design environments and should be supported by an underlying system. Any synchronous access to data is conflict prone. Applying concurrency control and two-phase commit are an option to be considered. But design processes also demand cooperation between the designers. Negotiation about actions on the product under design and the early exchange of preliminary results are crucial issues. Controlled data access by itself doesn't fulfill all the needs for cooperation. We will present a new approach that relies on a concept and system model which integrates concurrent activities by a common information space offering flexible protocols for cooperation on the shared objects. We will describe the customizability of the protocols to allow the approach to be adapted to different cooperative scenarios.
A Web-based
Collaborative Workspace Using Java 3D
Lihui Wang, Brian Wong, Weiming
Shen, Sherman Lang
This paper presents a framework for building web-based collaborative workspaces using the latest Java technologies - Java 3D, JavaServer Page (JSP), and Java Servlet. This web-based approach allows designers, engineers and production managers to share a common workspace that can be used for design review, production monitoring, remote control, and trouble-shooting, based on a set of interactive Java 3D models that represent the physical world with common interests. Following a brief overview of the related research work, this paper discusses the Java 3D concept from its scene graph structure to behavior control, and explains our approach to building web-based collaborative workspaces using Java 3D. The proposed framework uses the popular client-server architecture and view-control-model design pattern with a secured session control. Control logic and the interfaces, which interact with the real world, are handled by an application server through servlets. The benefits enabled by the framework include reduced network traffic, increased flexibility of remote monitoring, interactive control, web-based synchronous collaboration and quick response. It also shows a large potential for various web-based real-time and distributed applications.
Multi-user Shared
Virtual Reality in the Exhibition of Chinese Nationalities
Jun Zhang, Fengsen Li, Hua Li
Virtual Museum of Chinese Nationalities is a multi-user shared virtual reality system developed to efficiently popularize the cultures and folk-customs of various ethnic groups for the public by means of cooperative work. We regard the project as long-term research, in that there are so many problems to solve. Unlike existing systems, we should maintain scalable and interactive performance on a wide variety of computing platforms, not only high-end graphics workstations, and distribute the virtual world via a bandwidth-limited network. In this paper we will introduce some architectures and algorithms realized in our current prototype, e.g., shared event mechanism, area of interest algorithm, distributed server architecture, etc.
Integrity Validation
for Object Versions in a Co-operative Design Environment
J.S. Goonetillake, T.W. Carnduff,
W.A. Gray
Due to the evolutionary nature of the engineering design process, it is necessary to provide support for version management. The version model should be provided with an integrity checking mechanism to assure the consistency of object versions with the design constraints. Managing integrity constraints is complex, due to their evolving nature, and raises a number of issues that need to be dealt with. In this paper we present a conceptual framework for providing an integrity mechanism for object versions. The framework is based on the concept of the Constraint Version Object (CVO).
Towards Distributed
Privacy for CSCW
Larry Korba
Tools for computer supported collaborative work offer many advantages for their users. Some developments in this field have included agent-based approaches for CSCW. Many challenges face the development and application of distributed, agent-based solutions for CSCW. A concern often overlooked is the acceptability and social impact of these technologies. In particular, the management of the privacy of collaborators is a paramount issue that must be accommodated. Included and related to the privacy of user information and interactions are assurances of integrity, certification, validation, ownership, non-repudiation, and authentication of individuals and software systems operating on disparate computers and operating systems, communicating over heterogeneous networks. In this paper we outline our early work on an approach for accountable privacy that may be applied to distributed computer supported cooperative work (CSCW) environments. Particular challenges for the issue of privacy associated with the CSCW application scenario are discussed.
A New Algorithm of
Collision Detection in Shared Space for Collaborative Design
Chenhui Yang, Lilly Li, Tangqiu Li
Fast and accurate collision detection is critical for the performance of the simulation of a virtual space where a great number of objects are presented and groups of people are working collaboratively. Most previous algorithms consume much memory resources or CPU resources. In this paper, we present a new algorithm that can greatly reduce the number of pairs needed to check for collision detection in a distributed large-scale virtual space for collaborative design. Based on the idea of object oriented modeling, it makes good use of the concept of virtual grid, which will consume no unnecessary memory resources or CPU resources, and at the same time, fully utilize the distributed resources to increase the speed of collision detection.
Yurong Xu, Shouqian
Sun, Zongkai Lin, Yingxin Zhao
The objective of Computer Supported Knowledge Aided Collaborative Conceptual Design (CSKACCD) is to aid group design activities semi-automatically or automatically with multidisciplinary knowledge. This paper presents a general distributed design system model to give a global view of CSKACCD, and then designs a constraint-based distributed knowledge representation model based on different constraints abstracted from the domain specific knowledge of the designing artifact. Finally, this paper describes a robust distributed conflict detection and resolution mechanism developed for different designers to effectively interact with each other.
Collaborative
Discussion and Decision-Support in a Manufacturing Organization
André Marcos da Silva, Rodrigo
Bonacin, M. Cecília C. Baranauskas
Most work activities in organizations involve problem discussion, interpretation and decision-making. Literature has shown that an understanding of the nature of groups and their organizational work context is essential to the designs of systems to support these activities. Andon is a CSCW (Computer Supported Cooperative Work) system, designed to support discussion during problem-solving processes in a manufacturing organization. This paper addresses the reuse of results from participatory techniques applied to the Andon interface design to propose an artificial agent structure aimed at improving decision-making in workgroups.
Cooperation as a
Communication process
Jean-Philippe Kotowicz, Xavier
Briffault
The actors of a company must collaborate in an efficient way to achieve the common purposes of the company (the Project). Therefore, they must have competencies, manage and produce knowledge, perform tasks, and communicate between them; all in an environment permanently evolving. The methods and tools of work organization can benefit from new technologies of the communication to return these more effective adaptations. This system will be a major constituent element of companies' memories. A new type of software will then be necessary to disambiguate, to facilitate, to structure and to allow complex searches in the exchanges arising among actors of a cooperative socio-technical system. We thus propose a system of communication mediation and of memories companies management, based on a multi-agent architecture.
A Novel Method for
Image Retrieval in Distributed Multimedia System
S.X. Sun, T.Y. Huang, C.Y. Pang
With the development of Internet and multimedia technologies, image retrieval based on their visual features becomes an important research area in distributed multimedia system. In this paper, we propose a new method for image retrieval by their visual appearance-Multi Scale Gauss-filtering Representation (MSGF). Images are first filtered in several scales with Gauss derivative filters, and the feature vectors are constructed on filtering outputs in several scales. Next, images are matched by their feature vectors, the matching results are scored and returned to user. We develop a fast search algorithm of index structure for local similarity retrieval of images. We then generalize the idea to a wide range of image retrieval by global similarity. Experiment shows that this method is effective in feature extraction and image retrieval by their visual appearance.
Synergetic
Collaboration in Networked Virtual Reality System
Yi Chen, Shouyi Zhan, Pengfei Li
Collaboration of multiple users in a network, which has been a hot topic in computer supported cooperative work (CSCW), is an important problem in networked virtual reality (NVR) systems. In this paper, the authors have covered a series of problems as to the collaboration efficiency in NVR, suggested some solutions for these problems, and as a result, present a framework for supporting and developing collaborative networked virtual reality application.
The Development Tool
of the Application Cooperation Software
Zhigang Zhang, Zongkai Lin, Yuchai
Guo
In the process of cooperative design, we often need to discuss or modify a project generated by traditional CAD software, but there are many limitations in current cooperative design tools, such as White Board Tool and Shared Tool. Considering these limitations, we put forward the concept of Application Cooperation Tool. The tool, a domain-depending one, aims to provide an environment for a group to discuss or modify a project generated by traditional application software. It not only keeps down the original functions of the traditional software, but also supports the cooperative work. However, the development of application cooperation tools is a difficult and time-consuming job. During the process of developing application cooperation tools ACPBrush and ACAutoCAD98, we discovered some common features that exist in all kinds of CAD software, such as the analysis of event-stream and the reenactment of the event. On the basis of those general rules, we plan to develop a tool that can modify traditional CAD software to a cooperation-based design tool. This paper discusses the methods used in it, the structure and components of the tool, and relative problems.
The Control and
Algorithm of Audio Dynamic Buffer
Chongjia Peng, Yong Tang, Xianji
Li, Chengjie Mao
It is very important to improve the quality of voice transferred on the Internet. In this paper two aspects about voice quality are analyzed, and an algorithm of dynamic setting audio buffer for improving QoS is proposed. Lastly, the simulation results of the algorithms and the conclusion are given.
T.120/H.32x-based
Multimedia Conferencing Design
Minzhe Zhao, Mingshu Li
Multimedia conferencing technology is becoming increasingly important, as it enables people who are located in different cities (or countries) to share, as well as interact, with their data, comments, images, and video pictures. This paper introduces the multimedia conferencing standards, such as ITU-T T.120, T.130, H.320, H.323, and H.324, which comprise the core technologies for multimedia conferencing. The paper discusses interoperability and compatibility issues, which arise from the deployment of different vendor applications. The paper also presents a proposed multimedia conferencing system with H.32X standard capabilities, which is designed to facilitate interoperability and compatibility between different platforms.
Research on Adaptive
IP QoS Management Framework
Yong Tang, Chengjie Mao, Hai-xiang
Ou, Xue-liang Yang, Xianji Li
IP QoS is one of the core technologies of IP network. The mechanisms to achieve IP QoS could be Sub Bandwidth Management (SBM), Multiple Protocols Label Switching (MPLS), IntServ, DiffServ, and so on. But some of the above should be integrated for implementing completed IP QoS. At present, one of the most popular ideas is IntServ on the edge of network and DiffServ on the backbone. In this paper, we present a framework for completed end-to-end adaptive IP QoS by integrating DiffServ and IntServ, and put forward the negotiation flowchart of adaptive QoS on the Boundary Router and the QoS control flow-chart on the Interior Router.
Research on Shared
Objects Cooperative Manipulating Systems
Wei Li, Hantao Song, Yisong Jiang
Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) embodies the interaction, distribution and cooperation of the work among people of this information era. Shared Objects Cooperative Manipulating System (SOCMS) is one of the most popular applications of CSCW. We present a framework of SOCMS based on the blackboard model. This framework is composed of one data blackboard and two control blackboards. The data blackboard contains the shared objects and the control blackboards contain the control knowledge. It resolves the concurrency, security of the shared objects, and the identification of the roles of cooperators. We also analyze several key techniques of the SOCMS.
HDBIS Supporting
E-Collaboration in E-Business
Lizhen Liu, Hantao Song, Yanmei
Liu
This paper introduces E-Collaboration in E-Business. It stresses that HDBIS (Heterogeneous Database Integration System) plays an important role for supporting E-Collaboration in E-Business. HDBIS provides a crucial technique for integration of heterogeneous information sources in E-Business. The paper further displays the E-Collaboration model supported by HDBIS through application of clothing companies, which include three layers: manufacturers, sellers, and customers. The system architecture, functions and characteristics of HDBIS are presented. The implementation and model of HDBIS using COM/DCOM and ASP is also introduced.
Co-DARFAD-the
Collaborative Mechanical Product Design System
Kezheng Huang, Xudong Li, Shukun
Cao, Bo Yang, Wei Pan
Based on a newly developed mechanical product design automation system, DARFAD, the D&R (Decomposition & Reconstitution) model based collaborative design concept is proposed first in this paper, and the product development model and collaborative design process model are described. Then the framework of the DARFAD-based collaborative design system Co-DARFAD is introduced, which is characterized by true "collaborative design" (not CSCW in design) and formal collaborative design process, lending itself to both loose-coupled and close-coupled collaborative design work in both synchronous and asynchronous modes on the Internet. Finally, the conceptual design for mechanical product is shown as an application case.
Sharing Learning in a
Cooperative Design System
Hong Liu, Xiyu Liu
Design is a complex problem solving and knowledge refinement process. Learning is a part of this process that can improve computer-based design support systems by using the knowledge representing the experience and expertise of designers. Learning from past design examples, and learning new knowledge during the process of design are closely related activities that must be supported by future computer supported design systems. This paper analyzes real design activity and proposes a model of design activity. Then it presents the software architecture of a design agent with learning mechanism. Subsequently, it introduces the knowledge representation in a design system. Finally, the paper presents sharing learning process in a cooperative design system.
Tracking of Design
Changes for Collaborative Product Development
Helen Xie
Market demands are moving manufacturing from mass production to mass customization. To quickly respond to customer needs, product development teams have to work together in a collaborative design environment. This paper presents a product data driven approach to tracking of design changes in a collaborative design environment. In this research, design processes are analyzed to identify product data for tracking design changes. The relationships between product data are established using predecessor-successor, mastersubordinate, and geometric constraint relationship types. Forward tracking and backward tracking are designed and implemented to identify impacts of a design change. A prototype system has been implemented to verify the effectiveness of the approach. Finally, a milling machine fixture is used as a design example to show how this approach works. The proposed approach provides a fundamental mechanism to promptly notify other designers of design changes in a collaborative design environment.
Towards Collaborative
Design in an Open Hypermedia Environment
David L. Hicks, Uffe Kock Wiil
Open hypermedia systems hold significant potential to facilitate the development of collaborative design applications. In particular, it is the flexible approach utilized by these systems to provide infrastructure services, their ability to accommodate alternative hypermedia domains, and their facilities for information integration across application boundaries that give open hypermedia systems this potential. Current open hypermedia systems, however, have not realized their full potential to support collaborative design. They lack capabilities in one or more of these important areas. Improvements are especially needed in the collaborative infrastructure services provided by open hypermedia systems, and in their support for alternative hypermedia domains. A prototype open hypermedia system is currently being extended to address these shortcomings of existing systems.
An Overview of
Cognitive Factors in Distributed Design
Sherman Lang, John Dickinson,
Ralph Buchal
Engineering design is being carried out by distributed design teams in an effort to use expert human resources more efficiently. Efforts to support distributed teams often neglect cognitive factors, such as the social functions being fulfilled and limitations in the ability of humans to perceive, contextualise, process, and recall information. The support needs of distributed design are reviewed from this cognitive viewpoint using five broad categories: Design Methodology, Collaboration, Teamwork, Knowledge Management, and Design Representation.
Design and
Implementation of an Intelligent Cooperative Design System
Pengcheng Zhang, Renhou Li
Establishing an open intelligent system is one of the goals of the cooperative design system nowadays. In this paper, a system architecture based on the CSCW model with multi-Level and multi-Group is presented. The proposed system is open and permits users to add their special components tallied with the architecture specification to the system. An integration method of the open system architecture based on the agent technology is given. Finally, the implementation of the intelligent management of cooperative task and process is discussed, and an example of the application is given in the last section of the paper.
Min Tang, Xinyu Tang, Jinxiang
Dong
It is necessary to use parts of libraries when using CAD software. But, deficiencies and problems exist in most libraries, so we developed a part manage system - GS-PM. Based on features, but not geometric information, it not only improves the efficiency, but also enables some applications of higher levels, for instance, the parts can be used in different CAD software. This part library can work in Client/Server mode to share information. It can also be applied to establish a customized Visual Part Library (a web part library), which can build parts dynamically according to the user's needs.
Parametric Modeling
with User-defined Features
Min Tang, Ye Wen, Xiaofeng Mi,
Jinxiang Dong
Feature-based design is the main characteristic of current prevailing parametric solid modeling systems. By means of enabling users to build their own feature libraries, user defined features (UDF) provided as an extensional design method can overcome the shortcoming of inconvenience that exists in the traditional feature-based modeling system. Traditional UDF representation is implemented either by procedural definition, which represents the features implicitly [1], or by an explicit representation or enumerative way [2, 4]. This paper proposes an innovative approach on the representation of UDFs by extending the common procedural UDFs' data structure with the boundary features. Then a unified feature attachment interface is described. Thus, a unified representation of UDFs is introduced.
Collaborative Model for Concurrent Product Design
Peng Song, Min Tang, Jinxiang Dong
With the demand of distributed designers to cooperatively design a single product, these designers need to simultaneously access a common database, which holds the geometric model and other information of the product. But frequently, their design will lead to invalid results. So it is very important to build a distributed model to coordinate these designers to ensure the consistency of the product. This paper introduces a collaborative model to support this concurrent work. First, the architecture of this system is presented. Then a collaborative design model is described in detail. We analyze two reasons of the conflict and give two collaborative modes to coordinate the design process. These two modes can be used in different environments and can be used in a mixed way. So we can keep the consistency of the common solid model and maintain the maximal freedom of the designers at the same time. Finally, we give some design examples to further illustrate our model.
A Framework and
Implementation Techniques for Cooperative Architectural Engineering Design
Systems
Weiyu Wu, Peng Pan, Hua Li, Wei
Yu, Dongmei Liang
In order to realize the Cooperative design for architecture engineering among people in different specialties or in different zones, a computer supported cooperative design system based on network environment, which can integrate different professional programs and function modules, is presented. The key implementation techniques, which include solution of data integration based on neutral database, communication mechanism based on standard network protocol, particularly for multimedia system, synchronous and asynchronous control for model data and working rules in cooperative design are also illuminated. 3DMECAD, a prototype cooperative design system was developed by us to prove the validity of our solution. The system has a promising future in China.
Volume Modelling in a
Feature Based Product Modeling System
Min Tang, Chentao Yu, Jinxiang
Dong
In this article we propose a hybrid modeling system based on B-rep model and volume model to overcome the inability of representing volume information of modeling object in conversional feature based modeling systems. Using this hybrid representation, we can easily solve the visualization and mass property computation for designing objects with a specified volume attribute. In this article, we propose a new method for converting B-rep models into volume models. This converting method is based on the marching cube algorithm, and is optimized by an octree algorithm. Using this converting method, we can efficiently convert the B-rep models into Volume models. We also discuss the antialiasing technical on those volume models; we analyze different filters used for the voxelization of analytically described objects. To solve the visualization product problems in modeling systems, such as dynamic simulation, we present the methods of how to add Boolean operations to the hybrid modeling system to solve these problems. Voxelization enables uniform representation of all objects by a single primitive. Thus, instead of dealing with a number of different objects with specific features, dynamic simulation and dynamic interference on volume models only need simple calculations and is more efficient. We show that, using volume modeling, difficult problems in old modeling systems can be easily solved. The detail of our algorithm is discussed in this article. We have implemented a volume modeling system based on our old feature based modeling system-GSCAD.
AI Supported
Computer-Generated Pen-and-Ink Illustration
Yan Gu, Songhua Xu, Min Tang,
Jinxiang Dong
In the field of computer graphics there is an increasing demand for non-photorealistic effects. In the paper, we add the idea of pattern recognition guided by theoretical rules into previous traditional NPR system and create non- photorealistic drawings intelligently. The Style Sample Library functions as an expert library and makes it easier to render a picture with non-photorealistic effects even by an amateur user.
Research on Network
Based Conceptual Design
Cuixia Ma, Hongan Wang, Guozhong
Dai
Conceptual design has played a very important role in the design process. Knowledge of all the design requirements and constraints during this early phase of a product's life cycle is usually approximate, imprecise, and unknown. Conceptual Design is now recognized as a highly important process when considering both the concurrent engineering aspects and the commitment of resources necessary to design and develop a product. With the development of the Internet, collaborative design is imperative and effective. The technology of CSCW is adopted widely and necessary in the domain of the conceptual design. It can fit the nature of the design. It shortens the distance of designers in different places and collects and shares all the information in time. In the conceptual design, collaborative design mainly includes function, principle, layout and initial structure, and so on. We developed a system of conceptual design based on the current CAD system, which could realize the seamless link with the later detail design. For the individual design, multi-modal technology, which integrates many interactions such as gesture and speech, supports an advanced interface to assist humans to develop the applications.
Cooperative Product
Design Process Modeling
Gang Zhao, Jiati Deng
Modeling cooperative product design process is one of key challenges to build up cooperative and intelligent product design information systems and environments. Since cooperative design process is characterized with distributed workflow and complicated interactions, and it is constraint-oriented, involving the recognition, formulation, and satisfaction of constraints. In this paper, the authors first introduce constraint network to model complex relationships in the cooperative design process that are both the causes and results of interaction. Based on constraint networks, an event-driven constraint-triggered decision-pushed automated design process model is built. Then the authors use Petri net to model interaction behaviors, including communication, negotiation, coordination and cooperation. Finally implementation of MAS prototype based on cooperative design process model is described and an application example is provided in brief.
Supporting
Negotiation in Concurrent Design Teams
Robin Barker, Leigh Holloway,
Anthony Meehan
This short paper reports on that part of a design support system that assists each individual in a concurrent design team to negotiate with their colleagues during the materials selection stage of design. It identifies a difference in the way some concurrent design team members conduct negotiation compared to one of the standard economic models. It seeks to build upon this to suggest ways in which designers may be supported in identifying alternative materials, the choice of which would improve the design from their own perspective, and which are more likely to be acceptable to partners in negotiation.
A Case Study on
Distributed, Collaborative Design: Investigating Communication and Information
Flow
Steven P. MacGregor, Avril I.
Thomson, Neal P. Juster
A current research project at the University of Strathclyde is introduced which aims to better understand the role of distributed engineering design in industry and address present problems. An element of the first major industrial case study of the project, completed within a multinational in the oil and gas industry, is then described and shown to address the main research questions. This multinational will be described in the text as company A. Sampling and analysis of distributed activity over time is served by the completion of daily diaries and direct observation. This detail design phase of a distributed design project finds that most collaborative work consists of simple information exchange supplementary to the main design activity. Furthermore, concentrated periods of collaborative design are found to follow these information exchange 'cycles.' 62% of distributed activity is found to be with the main design partner and asynchronous communication tools are the most popular. Distributed problems are also listed, including misinterpretation and finding the right person for information.
POPIM: Pragmatic
Online Project Information Management for Collaborative Product Development
GQ Huang, XB Feng, KL Mak
POPIM (Pragmatic Online Project Information Management) is a prototype
web-based platform for managing collaborative product development projects
within an extended enterprise environment. A suite of facilities are provided
for geographically dispersed project team members to communicate, share, and
collaborate on a project in a common workspace where they enjoy online access
to the most up-to-date project information, and maintain a high-level data
consistency and accumulate experience and knowledge. In addition to standard
project management functionality, such as defining work structure breakdowns,
determining work schedules, teaming up with specialists, and allocating
resources, POPIM incorporates workflow management (including dependency
management), and deliverable management (document management if documents are
considered as one kind of deliverables). Individual members have their personalized
accounts according to their skills and roles/responsibilities in a project. A
project team and its members may maintain their own journals/records. More
application-specific functions, such as product design review and engineering
change management, can be implicitly performed through online document forms.
Web based Product
Design Review: Implementation Perspective
GQ Huang, KL Mak, JY Shen, JQ Yan
Product design review is one of the typical scenarios of collaborative product development. We developed a web-based prototype framework for supporting the collaborative tele-product design review on the Internet. It provides a suite of tools for establishing and managing the new product design review process. This paper discusses the issues related to the development and implementation of web application in prototype implication. The typical 3-tier architecture is explained to show how the CyberReview components work together to achieve the intended functionality. The VRML EAI and Java Applet-Servlet pair technology was included to support the implication.
Web-based Concurrent
Design Using a Distributed System and Database Modeling Approach
D. Xue, Y. Xu
In this research, systems, libraries, and databases for modeling different product development life-cycle aspects are distributed at different locations that are linked throughout the web. Product modeling libraries and databases at different places, described by class features and instance features, are associated by defining their relations. Product modeling systems at different locations for manipulating different product development life-cycle activities are integrated by using the system components at one location as the components at other locations.
An Optimal Concurrent
Design Model Using Distributed Product Development Life-cycle Databases
F. Zhang, D. Xue
An optimal concurrent design approach is introduced in this research using a previously developed distributed product development life-cycle database modeling method. In this approach, product realization process alternatives and relevant activities are modeled at different locations that are connected throughout the Internet. Genetic Programming (GP) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) are employed for identifying the optimal product realization process alternative and the optimal parameter values of the feasible alternatives, respectively.
A Data-Centric
Distributed Framework for MDO Management
Bin Chen, DaoJun Liu, Babak
Mahdavi, Qun Zhou, Djamel Bouhemhem, Amadou Ndiaye, François Guibault, Benoît
Ozell, Dominique Pelletier, Jean-Yves Trépanier
This paper presents the overall architecture of the VADOR application framework. The purpose of the VADOR framework is to enable the seamless integration of commercial and in-house analysis applications in a heterogeneous, distributed computing environment, and to allow the deployment of automatic design optimization algorithms based on the framework. A multi-tiered client-server architecture has been devised, which comprises a client GUI for interactive data definition and execution launching, separate data and execution servers, and autonomous remotely executable application wrappers.
Agent-Supported
Portals and Knowledge Management in Complex R&D Projects
Jean-Paul A. Barthès, Cesar Tacla
This paper is concerned with organizing Knowledge Management in complex R&D projects where time is the prime factor. We argue that specific portals developed using groupware technology and products should be augmented by agents in order to increase the overall system reactivity and to achieve the global objective, namely to save time. We describe a portal we have developed using a groupware approach, give the structure of a system of cognitive agents, and discuss the possibility of bringing the two technologies together.
Web Agents for
Spatial Mining on Air Pollution Meteorology
Vincent Ng, Stephen C F Chan,
Sandra Au
This paper describes an agent framework to support spatial data mining of air pollution data. A web-based solution, APMF (Air Pollution Mining Framework), is developed to investigate the effects of meteorological and air pollutant elements on air pollution. It makes use of three types of agents: Collect agents, Coordinate agents, and Query/Mining agents. Query/Mining agents interact with the user, receive user queries and mining request, and deliver the results. Coordinate agents help to prepare the data resources for the querying tasks. Collect agents provide access to a heterogeneous collection of Web sources. In order to standardize data exchanges and query/mining process descriptions, an XML-based language, DQML, is developed. A prototype of the APMF is implemented with Java Servlet and JavaLite.
Implementation of
Multi-Agent System Based on CORBA and COM
Xinming Tan, Shaomei Wang
This paper discusses implementing multi-agent systems with component software techniques. Studies on how to implement autonomy, adaptability, interaction, and interoperability of agents and multi-agent systems based on CORBA and COM are carried out and presented respectively. It elaborates that those main features of agents and multi-agent systems could be obtained naturally by applying component software techniques. It indicates that CORBA based or COM based development approach is a practical way to develop large scale and complex multi-agent systems running under distributed heterogeneous environments.
Exception Handling
and Structure Recasting in Distributed Process-Oriented Information Systems
Hong Xu, Guang Shu, Diji Zhou,
Qingzhong Lu
The era where business rules are buried in Cobol code is coming to an end, and users themselves may seek to dynamically change their business rules. Customers require systems that more easily adapt to changing business needs, meet their unique requirements, and scale to large and small installations. On the other hand, the same technique is adequate for the slightly different purpose of producing a whole line of software products. Of course, a line of products may be obtained by variously instantiating an abstract model, and by adapting a given initial system to various requirements that appear simultaneously instead of evolving in time. Moreover, the diversification of a successful product may also be seen as a form of re-engineering. This paper analyzes the so-called exceptions and adaptive changes in modern enterprise-wide information systems and advocates a generic mechanism for handling them.
Research on
Multi-Agent for General Group Decision Support System
Chaozhen Guo, Wu Dong, Jia Wu
The research work presented in this paper is based on the concrete background of the Group Decision Support System (GDSS), modeling and abstracting the process of the GDSS. This paper presents a design of General GDSS based on multi-agent approaches. In this design, we have abstracted a suit of procedures, which can hold the communication between GENERAL GDSS system's coordinator (server), and GDSS system's decision-maker (customer). It overcomes the limitations of traditional systems, and can be used for group decisions in many fields. This paper focuses on introducing the design that many components were giving by the form of "COM", and the idea of "agent" was embodied in the design of these components. It offers some universal components for GDSS system developers, including: GDSS communication component, GDSS site monitor agent component, cryptogram agent component, preference agent component, alternation agent component, and cooperation agent component, etc. A prototype has been implemented.
A Strong Migration
Method of Mobile Agents Based on Java
Hong Wang, Guangzhou Zeng, Shouxun
Lin
In many CSCW systems, mobile agents are used to do some important work. However, mobile agents add a notable amount of complexity to all common problems of distributed systems, and cause a couple of new ones, such as location management, frequent disconnection and migration, etc. In this article, we focus on the technique for strong migration of mobile agents. Capturing and reestablishing the agent's state is the most important problem in strong migration of mobile agents. In this paper, we describe a way to save and restore the state of a running Java-based agent. We achieve this on the language level, without modifying the Java Virtual Machine, by instructing the Java source programs with a preprocessor which is used in a mobile agent scenario to offer strong migration for mobile agents based on Java. The automatically inserted code saves the runtime information when the program requests state saving and reestablishes the program's runtime state on restart.
CoDesign - A
Collaborative Pattern Design System Based on Agent
Bo Jiang, Chun Chen, Jiajun Bu
For effective collaborative working between the parties in a pattern design project team, it is essential that a highly efficient and feasible cooperative platform is available. This paper presents an agent-based infrastructure for the automated collaborative design of textile industrial pattern. Cooperative awareness among distributed participants is one of the most important issues associated with collaborative pattern design. Several techniques based on the management of intensity awareness are proposed. In addition, the Pattern Knowledge Library that enables intelligent design on the WEB greatly enhances the function of CSCD. The prototype is intended to serve as a useful cooperative system for designers, and should allow faster, better, and more economic, collaborative design of patterns.
Of Networks,
Interactions and Agents: An Approach for Social Network Analysis
P. Temdee, L. Korba
In the modern office environment, workers use computers, networks, and various software applications to allow them to work together. Measuring and understanding how effectively people work together in the performance of tasks can be used to assess the appropriateness of the tools they are using for collaborative work, or the effectiveness of their work environment in general. In this paper, we describe an approach for determining how people interact together in the performance of computer mediated tasks. We also provide the background for this work and some caveats concerning its application.
A Dynamic Web Agent
for Verifying the Security and Integrity of a Web Site's Contents
Soroush Sedaghat, Josef Pieprzyk,
Ehsan Vossough
To harness safe operation of Web-based systems in Web environments, we propose a Server-based SHA-1 Page-digest Algorithm (SSPA) to verify the integrity of Web contents before the server issues an HTTP-Response to a user request. In addition to standard security measures, our Java implementation of SSPA, which is called Dynamic Security Surveillance Agent (DSSA), provides further security in terms of content integrity to Web-based systems. Its function is to prevent display of altered Web contents, through malicious acts of attackers and intruders, on client machines. This is to protect the reputation of organizations from cyber attacks and to ensure safe operation of Web systems by dynamically monitoring the integrity of sites content on demand. We will discuss our findings in terms of applicability and practicality of the proposed system. We also discuss its time metrics specifically in relation to its computational overhead at the Web server as well as the overall latency from the clients' point of view, using different Internet access methods. SSPA, DSSA, experimental results and related work are discussed.
A Framework for
Intelligent Agents within Effective Concurrent Design
Kuo-Ming Chao, Anne James, Peter
Norman
One feature of concurrent engineering is the notion of distributed design, and the ability to communicate changes to all participating disciplines. However, successful engineering design is constrained by the complexities of design activity. The differences in system architectures or methodologies, the diverse knowledge and information generated by these distributed disciplines, all compounded by the problems of coordinating the communication process, will reduce the effectiveness of distributed design. Current thinking indicates that multiple agent systems (MAS) could alleviate the complex and large engineering design problems. A drawback of these approaches is the failure to recognise the significance of agent autonomy and proactiveness. In this paper, it is suggested that agent attributes, such as proactiveness and autonomy, are ideally suited to resolving the problems. They provide a more flexible and dynamic approach to multiple disciplines situated within distributed design environments, which can reduce redundant design activities, and thereby reduce co-ordination management and design versions. It is proposed that an agent-based framework incorporating CORBA technology should be used to maximize the proactive nature of autonomous design agents.
Research on
Integrated Model Based on XML, CORBA and Agent
Hong Guo, Rui Chen, Li-ming Hu
In the past two decades, perspective on System Integration (SI) has changed greatly. Several disciplines have done much work on SI, and advance new techniques unceasingly to resolve problems that arose from distribution, heterogeneity and autonomy. The authors studied several new techniques widely used in SI, such as extended markup language (XML), CORBA and Agent. We propose an integrated model based on these techniques to improve performance and apply it in intelligent building system integration.
Architectural
Properties of CSCWD System Based on Multi C2D2-Agent
Xiaosu Zhan, Zongkai Lin, Guang
Xu, Yuchai Guo, Mingye Liu, Meilong Ye
In order to accommodate the new change brought by CSCD application systems, a new CSCWD system integration platform, based on Multi C2D2-Agent, is required. In this paper, a method in the form of MAS-based model for designing CSCWD system and C2D2- Agent concepts are proposed. The architectural property of this type of CSCWD system is studied. We show the importance for constructing C2D2 agents and explore an architecture model for multi-agent based CSCWD systems. We illustrate the structure of C2D2 agents, especially autonomous interface agents, and discuss some design principles for such agents. In the CSCWD system, autonomous interface agents can expediently support synchronous applications.
Agent-Based
Cooperative NC Conceptual Design
Zhigang Xu, Kezheng Huang, Weimin
Liu
Creativity is a core issue of product design and development, as is the machine tool that is implemented to make them. This paper presents an NC conceptual configuration model based on agent. Modularization is the fundamental NC conceptual layout design. It takes each module as an autonomous entity participating in design activities, and the product design process is described as the organized cooperative work of agents. The Cooperative Muti-agent NC Configuration (CMNC) system will greatly increase the designing efficacy, as well as creativity, by offering a large number of design options and a rudimentary evaluation mechanism. The prototype system, which is under further development, has shown great potential for creativity.
Cooperative Work
Mechanism in UUHDB System Based on MAS
Lei Ma, Mingye Liu, Hantao Song
In this paper, a United Use of Heterogeneous Database System based on Multi-Agent structure is introduced. We expatiate the means and strategies which can enhance the self-adaptive learning ability of single Agent and Multi-Agent. Cooperative work mechanism of Multi-Agent in UUHDB is presented. We also research the means of cooperative learning in Multi-Agent structure.
The Modeling of
Cooperative Environment in Digital Video Recorder Monitoring Control System
Dan Sun, Hantao Song
Digital video recorder monitoring control system (DVR-MCS) consists of digital hard-disk video recorders, which integrate the most advanced digital video technology, real-time digital video compression technology and multiplexer software. The cooperative monitoring control function in DVR-MCS is required, which enables operators to configure, monitor or control the digital hard-disk video recorders. This paper discusses the modeling of multi-agent based cooperative network environments in DVR-MCS and related technologies.
Update Algorithms for
the Sketch Data Model
Michael Johnson, Robert Rosebrugh
The authors have developed a new approach to database interoperability using the sketch data model. That technique has now been used in a number of applications, but an important question remains: What are the algorithms that support updates in the sketch data model? The question has significant content since the sketch data model uses EA-sketches to specify data structures, and these include constraint and other information not normally supported by relational database management systems. In this paper, we answer the question by using the framework of EA sketches to give a detailed mathematical treatment of database updates, providing a formal definition of insert update together with an algorithm which provably achieves updates. The algorithm is new, as it is the first to treat data and constraints on an equal categorical footing. We also note that further exactness properties (limits and colimits) can aid specification, and we provide algorithms for updates of EA sketched databases with finite limits. These are the first update algorithms for such databases. The sketch data model is being used in industry for designing interoperations for computer supported cooperative work and computer assisted software engineering (CASE) tools are under development. The paper is predominantly theoretical, and provides an important link needed for CASE tool development.
Database Support for
Evolving Data in Product Design
Dietmar Posselt, Gerd Hillebrand
We argue that database support for design processes is still inadequate, despite the many transaction models that have been put forth to fill this deficiency. In our opinion, substantial improvement is not to be had by introducing yet another transaction model, but by questioning the basic paradigm of transaction processing itself. Instead of the usual view of transactions as destructive operations replacing an outdated database state with a more current one, we propose to view design transactions as non-destructive operations importing additional knowledge about an essentially unchanging final design solution. This leads to a model of designing with constraints, and a natural way of concurrent design. We give a formal presentation of the model and then discuss implementation techniques for centralized and distributed constraint management.
On Processing Cycle
Query's Strategy for Semistructure Data Model and Its Role in Design
Jialin Le, Xuemin Lin
There is no obvious schema of information for the characteristic of self-describing semi-structure data, since the data structure is dynamic, but not regular nor complete. The data mode often adopted is a directed graph with its root, in which it often appears as a circular-like structure. In this paper, we address the issue of querying semi-structure data. Particularly, we are interested in detecting circular-like structure, so that infinitude circulating can be avoided for the query on OEM model-based. As an application, the approach (the Processing Cycle Query's Strategy) proposed in this paper has been successfully implemented in the design of www.Ego365.com E-business network station (built by Authors' team).
A Main Memory Database
Method Supporting Synchronous Cooperative Application
Qiujing Li, Yuchai Guo, Zongkai
Lin, Shouxun Lin
There is no good solution of data management for CSCW applications in synchronous work mode. The choice now is no management or duplicate. In the former case, it is common that phone tool discards audio data that is worthwhile to store. The performance is still not high, especially when it involves large amounts of multimedia data. We take advantages of main memory database technology to support synchronous cooperative work. After the analysis of cooperative design process based on cooperative concept design instance, the paper provides a main memory-based distributed data management model. The model schedules memory according to the features of synchronous cooperative application, greatly improving the performance of data access.
Product-driven
Workflow Design
W.M.P. van der Aalst, H.A.
Reijers, S. Limam
In manufacturing the interaction between the design of a product and the process to manufacture this product is studied in detail. Consider for example Material Requirements Planning (MRP), which is mainly driven by the Bill-Of-Material (BOM). For information-intensive products, such as insurance, loans, permits, and many other services, the relationship with the supporting workflow process is often neglected. Typically, the workflow processes are designed without careful consideration of structure and characteristics of the product. In this paper, we present a method for designing efficient and effective workflows based on the products generated by the process, rather than subjective interpretations of managers, consultants, and IT experts.
Workflow
Interoperability - Enabling E-Business
Yan Zhang, Meilin Shi, Chunyu
Miao, Zixin Zhuang, Xinxiang Chen
Workflow interoperability is such a significant problem that it can almost decide whether E-Business can be conducted successfully. In this paper, we first describe a typical, simplified E-Business flow to analyze the collaborative work in it and introduce the workflow interoperability problem. We define the collaborative model of E-Business as a hierarchical structure, which can also be regarded as the sketch map of the workflow interoperability in E-Business. Then two typical approaches to implement workflow interoperability are discussed. Our opinion is to combine the two methods and apply them to the different hierarchy. Workflow interoperability standards are presented in section 4.
An Object-Oriented
Modeling Method for Workflow Applications
Jingzhou Li, Haiyang Wang
Based on the analysis of workflow applications, the modeling process of workflow applications is divided into four levels in this paper. They are Application level, Structure and information level, Execution control level, and Implementation level. An object-oriented model corresponding to the four-level modeling process is also given, expressed in UML. Event mechanism is employed in this paper to realize both the control and distribution mechanism in the logical modeling of workflow applications, illustrated by an event meta-model consisting of four basic event classes. The event definition and notification mechanisms are separated from the event reaction objects, and also the definition of functions and the triggering mechanism of the functions are separated. This may facilitate the dynamic modification of the workflow definitions and also facilitate the description of the distribution of workflow applications.
CovaFlow: A General
Workflow System by Cova
Jinlei Jiang, Yan Wu, Meilin Shi
Although being exploited by businesses in a variety of industries, the current workflow system is considered to be too rigid. However, it is difficult to construct a new workflow system from scratch due to its complexity. On the other hand, meta-groupware is attracting more and more attention, in that it can be used to compose sophisticated systems. In this paper, we show how to implement workflow management systems by Cova, a meta-groupware developed at Tsinghua University. Problems, including process design, run-time synchronous support and reliability, are addressed. It is efficient as well as easy to construct Workflow Management System (WfMS) based on meta-groupware. In addition, a system developed in this way presents many desired features such as flexibility, reliability, and so on.
Integration of
Workflow and Agent Technology for Business Process Management
Yuhong Yan, Zakaria Maamar,
Weiming Shen
Both workflow and agent technology have recently been applied to business process management. The integration of these two technologies will definitely provide solutions to the problems not to be solved by any of them individually. This paper summarizes the capabilities of these two technologies and discusses the forms and benefits of integrating them for business process management. Generally, agent enhanced workflow management and agent-based workflow management are the main forms for applications of intelligent agents in workflow systems. Some research issues in each form are discussed. A conclusion with discussions of future research directions is also given.
Verification of XRL:
An XML-based Workflow Language
W.M.P. van der Aalst, H.M.W.
Verbeek, A. Kumar
XRL (eXchangeable Routing Language) is an instance-based workflow language that uses XML for the representation of process definitions and Petri nets for its semantics. Since XRL is instance-based, workflow definitions can be changed on the fly and sent across organizational boundaries. These features are vital for today's dynamic and networked economy. However, the features also enable subtle, but highly disruptive, crossorganizational errors. On-the-fly changes and one-of-a-kind processes are destined to result in errors. Moreover, errors of a cross-organizational nature are difficult to repair. In this paper, we show soundness properties of XRL constructs by using a novel, constructive approach. We also describe a software tool based on XML and Petri-net technologies for verifying XRL workflows.
Modeling Workflow
within Distributed Systems
Yuhong Yan, Alex Bejan
Workflow management techniques are aimed at supporting business processes across organization boundaries. Current techniques are lacking the formalism tools to model and analyze workflows in a large scale; current WFMSs do not have the ability to react to the response of another WFMS dynamically. Using Petri Nets as the modeling tools, we present the concept of Standard Workflow Structure and a set of standard workflow blocks are designed. We prove that modeling a workflow process in Standard Workflow Structures can guarantee the soundness of a workflow network defined by Aalst [1]. We also present the decomposing method of a large scaled workflow network into sub-networks. From our analysis and proof, we draw a very good conclusion that the workflow network composed by self-loop connected sub-networks maintains soundness under proper structure conditions. The methods presented are not only a design language for the specification of complex workflows, but also powerful analysis techniques to verify the workflow procedures.
A Workflow System for
Supporting Group Activities of an Enterprise
Feng Li, Zongkai Lin, Yuchai Guo,
Jintao Li
Workflow technology provides a good way to mediate the responsibility flow in a business process from person to person and from task to task. However, most current workflow systems are not able to do this very well. The main reasons are: most activities of a workflow are executed asynchronously and respectively according to their workflow model, and cannot be executed synchronously; External GroupWare tools cannot be integrated very well, which doesn't make the system the best for supporting human-human synchronous interactions. CFlow (Cooperative workFlow) has been developed by our group recently to overcome the above shortcomings. In this paper, the main implementation techniques of CFlow are described; a process model visually describing method based on constraints is introduced; and an approach to integrate GroupWare tools is presented.
Collaborative
Modeling and Simulation for Order Management in Virtual Enterprise
Xiaoming Zhang, Ziqiong Deng,
Hongze Ma
Collaborative modeling and simulation takes strong advantages of resource sharing across the Internet for extended enterprise or virtual enterprise. Collaborative graphical modeling shows more attractiveness and difficulties when applied in web. One solution to integrate 2D-graphical modeling and web online analyzer is brought up and a prototype is realized through campus network. An order management model is designed collaboratively using modeling tools of EXTEND to map the operation in scheduling, production, and transportation of a geographically distributed iron ore enterprise. The distributed managers can submit orders and then get the simulation results online from an online web analyzer which is realized by apache web server, PHP and mySQL tools. The prototype shows effective experimental results. It will be studied more in creating complete model base for simulation server and graphical user interface for browsers.
An Agent-based Life
Cycle Management for Dynamic Virtual Enterprises
Vaggelis K. Ouzounis, Volker
Tschammer
Virtual Enterprises (VEs) enable the deployment of distributed business processes among different partners to support shortened development and manufacturing cycles, reduced time to market, increased customer satisfaction, and global operation and reach. Dynamic Virtual Enterprises are an emerging category of VEs, where the different partners are being selected dynamically during business process execution based on market-driven criteria and negotiation. In this paper, we discuss concepts and technologies that are considered to satisfy key requirements of dynamic virtual enterprises, and propose DIVE, a framework for the specification, execution and management of shared business processes in dynamic virtual enterprises.
Research and
Development of Electronic Commerce System-ESHOPDIY
Xiufen Fu, Yong Tang, Jing Wang
As an open standard for data representation, XML breathes new energy into Web applications and Electronic Commerce. In this paper, we elucidate the concept and connotation of XML, introduce the system structure and function model of the Electronic Commerce System-ESHOPDIY which we developed by integrating three kinds of Electronic Commerce sales styles, including B to C, B to B and C to C. We deal with developing technology and realization of ESHOPDIY, and finally discuss its features.
Virtual Supply Chain
Management: Information Framework and Agreement Network Model
Charu Chandra, Alexander V.
Smirnov
The interest in virtual supply chain decision-making problem is growing fast. The purpose of this type of enterprise is to transform incomplete information about customer orders and available resources into coordinated plans for production and replenishment of goods and services in the temporal network formed by collaborating units. This paper discusses a framework that integrates intelligent information support, group-decision making, and agreement modeling for a supply chain network. It offers the platform for design and modeling of diverse implementation strategies related to the type of agreement, optimization policies, decision-making strategies, organization structures, information sharing strategies and mechanisms, and business policies for the virtual supply chain.
Business to Business
Standard and Supply Chain System Framework in Virtual Enterprises
Deren Chen
Electronic Commerce provides a revolutionary way of doing business. It is changing the traditional commerce activities and forming a new pattern of international commerce running by establishing dynamic virtual enterprises. Due to its potential advantages, specifically in business to business fields, EC has become an active area recently, with many standards and solutions defined, proposed, and emerged. This paper introduces concepts of electronic commerce and virtual enterprise with the trade circle, then discusses recently proposed, developed and applied Internet B2B standards, including OBI, ICE, RNIF&PIP. It focuses on the relation of the supply chain with enterprises and partners. It also presents an application framework of supply chains in trade partners of virtual enterprise.
Cooperative Mechanism
for Real Time Long-distance Teaching System
Junzhou Luo, Jianxiang Wei,
Huasong Xu
Cooperative mechanism is the most important portion in the study of CSCW. As for a virtual background of teaching, this paper, by analyzing the cooperative relation between teacher and students in real time long-distance teaching systems, constructed a Petri net model based on cooperative mechanism within CSCW. Then, a cooperative controller to be realized in software is designed, and applications of the controller are discussed.
CSCL: An Internet
Based Education Model
Shengjun Xue, Ran Tan, Hua Huang
This paper provides a new educational model on the Internet - CSCL (Computer Supported Cooperative Learning). It introduces the current models of education, overviews the whole system, elaborates the process of realization, discusses its implementation using the Web technology, and finally, provides some prospective of the CSCL model.
Integrated Process
Design for E-Learning: A Case Study
Hartini Ahmad, Zulkifli Mohamed
Udin, Rushami Zien Yusoff
The higher education (HE) institutions are expanding fast. Universities are becoming genuine learning organisations and providers of a wide variety of opportunities for E-learning. Despite all efforts, the processes carried out do not meet learner's expectations, and often lead to ineffectiveness and inefficiency. Clearly, we need to develop a better understanding of the processes in E-learning in order to satisfy learner requirements. This research examines the nature of learner's demand in E-learning processes, such as in the registration process. In particular, it examines how the integration in process design could support E-learning. The first part of the paper will raise issues and questions about the meaning of E-learning and about the challenges which members of HE institutions have to face and cope with. Section two deals with the application integrated process designed to enhance the competitiveness of E-learning. This study identified one HE institution as a case study. The study found the current initiatives on E-learning, which the transformation of the entire processes were considered in order to accommodate the new realities, such as cost effectiveness, reliable and effective learning tools, co-operative technologies, and ease of operation. In addition, the process design must incorporate learner requirement information at all stages of the E-learning process.
Extracting WEB Table
Information in Cooperative Learning Activities Based on Abstract Semantic Model
Ning Gu, Guowen Wu, Xiaoyuan Wu,
Baile Shi
A great deal of Web table information exists in cooperative learning activities. This paper presents a new method that extracts information from tables of Web documents. Using tabled abstract semantic model to describe complicated tables and understand tables from the point of view of semantics, this method reduces the dependence for the design difference of table constructions in the extraction process. At the same time, it utilizes the characteristics of HTML and the technique of natural language process to design some heuristics rules, and thus aids the identification of table items. On the above basis, we designed a prototype "EXTable" and then gained a better result according to the experimentation.
A Cooperative System
for Multimedia Courseware Evaluation
Ming Zuo, Xiaotian Zhu
This paper presents a new multimedia courseware evaluation system. It is based on the internet-supported cooperative work. After we build the logical model upon workflow of the evaluation and management system, we have developed the cooperative system for the evaluation of multimedia courseware. Expert's work is distance to use the evaluation system on Internet; they would reduce expert's working hours and enhance management's working efficiency to a great extent.
A Teaching Support
Program for Distance Learning
Xiaotian Zhu, Zhijian Huang,
Yanchun Ma, Ming Zuo
A description of a teaching support system that has been put into use in CUMT is given in this paper. The system is actually an Internet-based program that provides a variety of multimedia courses for CUMT's students, both in and out of the campus. Besides that, it also provides a friendly environment for better communication between students and teachers. By using it, many teaching and learning tasks, like consultations, discussions and seminars, can be fulfilled. In addition, the program has a useful function that allows a large number of experienced teachers in different departments to work co-coordinately. This working method, in which distributed teachers work as collaborators, makes the instant replacement of information possible. With its remarkable multimedia potential, the system lets students enjoy the desired discussion with their desired teachers as much as they like. The modification plan and the prospect of the system are also given in this paper.
Cultivating a
Community of Practice: Designing the TeleLearning Exchange
Griff Richards, Tom Calvert, Aude
Dufresne, Lyn Bartram, Marek Hatala
CSCW is one mechanism by which the TeleLearning Exchange Project promotes collaboration in the interdisciplinary research of the TeleLearning Network of Centres of Excellence (TL-NCE). Affiliated researchers are encouraged to share informal knowledge of their projects via three major strategies: site visits by an integration officer, a community web repository (http://teleport.techbc.ca) and collaborative visits by students. An informal goal of the TeleLearning Exchange is to scaffold the next generation of collaborative researchers by actively involving students affiliated with the TL-NCE as agents of interdisciplinary cooperation and technical integration. This paper describes the design and development issues surrounding a web repository tool to build a community of practice.
An Interactive
Multimedia-Board
Junzhou Luo, Huasong Xu, Jianxiang
Wei
In order to meet requirements of large-scale users' cooperations with real time multimedia in the IP network, this paper presents the concept of multimedia-board and the definition of multimedia-board system. It describes the conversation model with Petri net and provides a concurrent control mechanism and algorithm, which may be applied to multimedia-board and other CSCW systems. At the end of the paper, we give a design of multimedia-board with B/S structure and its perspective in practice.
Cooperative Work in
Multimedia Network Teaching System
Shaozi Li, Tangqiu Li, Liying Wang
This paper presents the basic architecture of CSCW (Computer Supported Cooperative Work), then some issues in CSCW systems, such as concurrency controlling and synchronization is discussed. Its application in multimedia network teaching systems, such as whiteboard, chatting, etc. is given last.
MA-C: A Multimedia
Instruction Model based on Multi-Agent and CSCW
Shenkang Wang, Qinming He,
Chunyang Yu
For the construction of a cooperative learning environment, the authors propose a multi-media instruction model based on multi-agent and CSCW. The structure of the model and some important technologies, such as the communication and control of agents, are discussed in this paper.
Telematic
Applications for Supporting Telework Related Activities
Joseph Barjis, Boris Shishkov
This paper introduces further study towards telematic systems, especially in relation to their importance for telework. With respect to this issue, the paper considers the role of telematic applications in support of telework. In particular, it investigates telework support brokerage systems, which turn out to be crucial for the spread of telework among broad social circles. As a possible infrastructure for such systems, the paper considers telecenters. It is shown how such a brokerage system could be practically implemented, providing ideas about the system architecture. And finally, attention is paid to some social issues, discussing the great importance of modern information and communication technologies (including telework as one of the best examples of successful mass application of these technologies with great benefits for society) for the human prosperity of tomorrow.
Analysis and Modeling
of Cooperative Processes in Dynamic and Complex Environments
Francine Merat-Bodin, Tahar
Hakim Benchekroun
The theme of this research is assistance to team activities in a command situation. The framework is the introduction of a computer system into a team working in distributed mode (regimental command post, abbreviated CP). The system has not been subjected to a specific analysis as concerns horizontal cooperation within the CP. Data is transmitted to the CP in multiple modes and from multiple sources and is characterized by incompleteness, uncertainty, and requires both individual and group inferences to build up the tactical situation. We analyzed video tape recordings of simulation exercises and an operational control exercise in the field and attempted to model the proxemic cooperative process in this dynamic environment. The analysis proceeded in two phases: quantitative and qualitative. The qualitative analysis crystallized the idea of a proxemic multiaddressing zone of gradual involvement in a dynamic, complex environment, which, in conceptual terms, prompted a number of different lines of thought.
Paperless in the
Electronic Era: Millennium Dream and Reality
Azmi Mohd Yusoff, Manjit Singh
Sidhu
In this third millennium, the world is undergoing a revolution where technologies are being introduced almost daily. Until now, paperless has been a long dream of every organization and individual, which never became a reality. This paper will unveil all available technologies, covering the communication, storage device, and retrieval methodologies, toward paperless activities. We will see in the perspective of the provider and end user. By understanding the point-of-view of both parties, it will help when deciding or concluding the real future of the approached technologies. We also cannot run away with legal issue, so we will look into any factors that affect or demoralize this idea of paperless and a green world.
A New CSCW Prototype
System for Color CRT CAD/CAM
Yuxiu Cao, Chunxiao Xing, Long
Tang, Lizhu Zhou
A new Computer Supported Collaborative Work (CSCW) prototype system is developed to meet the needs of color CRT CAD/CAM. This paper discusses characteristics, and defines key elements of the CSCW prototype system. Cooperation relation and cooperation workflow of color CRT CAD/CAM are provided. Compared with the traditional color CRT CAD/CAM system, the new CSCW prototype system is more suitable for the rapid design of color CRT. The efficiency of the new CSCW prototype is validated. A general CSCW architecture to support integrated product/process design and development is presented. A case study and evaluation of the architecture is also discussed. The integrated architecture will facilitate information access, sharing, and analysis among design team members using open World Wide Web platforms and resources to design CRT products.
Designing and
Implementation of Tele-Health Care Information System based on Health Care
Model
Tsutomu Matsumoto, Toshikatsu
Mori, Hirofumi Ohtsuka, Yasuyuki Shimada, Shigeyasu Kawaji
This paper describes a concept and system implementation of tele-healthcare support system. Traditional medical consultation has been carried out with face to face. The tele-healthcare support system should make up the physical distance between client and clinician. The medical consultation model is proposed based on analyzing task and information of medical consultation for creating a designing methodology to the tele-health care system. The structure of the proposed medical consultation model is created by idea of feed back control system. Clinician takes play of a controller and client is regarded with a controlled system in the model. How and which parts of the model could be supported by computer and communication technology are discussed. The design and implementation of collaboration among client, clinician and co-medical, including family and establishment of a communication channel, are explained as one actual example based on the proposed medical consultation model.
New Multimedia
Telecommunication Technologies and CSCW for Telemedicine
Wenhua Huang, Yuhua Ai, Shizhen
Zhong, Qingan Zhu, Weidong Zhao, Lin Yuan, Zhenyu Chen, Jingdong Yan, Zhexing
Liu
This paper introduces the developing status of telemedicine. Telemedicine is based on the technology of telecommunication, and it is one of the applications of Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW). Computer supported teleconferencing applications have been developed in the field of CSCW and are currently providing more effective support for telemedicine services. This can be achieved by a combination of high performance networks and can reduce data transmissions during the conference. A scheme of telemedicine system is proposed.
CSCW Based
Telemedicine on the Internet
Seok-Soo Kim, Dae-Joon
Hwang
This paper proposes the telemedicine system which is a CBM-based real-time interactive telemedicine system using personal computer on the internet. And this system presents an intelligence type remote medical examination system for both on-line and off-line mode to transcend time and space on the web being participated by anybody, which is cheap type to solve problems in existing remote medical examination system such as high price based on hardware, incompatibility, and so on. And, this is a system where data processing of general member and charge member, doctor is differently performed by being divided into each class, certification of each member must follow by all means because service access right is endowed according to this, and remote medical system for western medicine of mutual conversation type between 3 parties (patient, doctor, pharmacist) are jointly operated ; and this presents the content regarding electronic medical examination chart and data processing for efficient and fast medical examination and treatment.
Chaozhen Guo, Qingming Wang, Yuan
Xu
This paper is an introduction to the design and implementation of a communication mechanism for WEBGIS (CGMGIS) based on the distributed component model. Since the format and method of the data transmission on the network have great influence on the performances of WEBGIS, great emphasis is placed on how to improve the transmission of the data and to create a new communication mechanism for WEBGIS by utilizing the advantages of both the DCOM and WebCGM technology and introducing a new WEBGIS data transmission and communication mechanism. Meanwhile, a new approach of real-time dynamic index is introduced focusing on the display of the spatial typographic information at the client end, in order to solve the problem of repeated transmission of the spatial typographic information so that the flow of the network data transmission can be cut down.
Computer Supported
Force Analysis and Layer Imagine for Masked Rapid Prototyping System
You-Min Huang, Jeng-Ywan Jeng,
Cho-Pei Jiang, Jia-Chang Wang
An innovative rapid prototyping (RP) system using direct mask photo curing (DMPC) is proposed in this paper. The underlying principle of RP system is to fabricate a three-dimensional part layer by layer. The design concept of the DMPC RP system is to use a dynamical photo mask for the layer profile. The image of the dynamic mask, generated by a thin film transistor liquid crystal displayer (TFT LCD) panel, is calculated from the slicing data of the CAD model. In the DMPC system, the photo-polymer is exposed and shielded by the LCD mask, and the light source to cure the photopolymer is from the bottom of the transparent resin container. A residual force is formed between the layer of the cured photo-polymer and the silicon film on the container. This residual force is measured using a loadcell and its theoretical model is further developed and simulated using finite element method. Hence, the force measurement, force simulation, layer imagine calculation, LCD control, position control and process parameters are supported by a host computer. As a result, good quality part with low cost can be built by this proposed DMPC RP system.
Intelligent Assembly
Modeling Based on Semantics Knowledge in Virtual Environment
Jianrong Tan, Zhenyu Liu, Shuyou
Zhang
This paper proposes a semantics knowledge modeling approach for product assembly, which is suitable for virtual reality interaction. Assembly semantics knowledge is used to express design conception, constrain the relationship between parts, and encapsulate design knowledge in semantics knowledge modeling. Using assembly semantics, the designer is able to express design intention in engineer's language, which is natural and convenient for designer. In addition, the intelligence of the system can be promoted through the inference of implicit knowledge of semantics. These methods are implemented in the development of VIRDAS (Virtual Reality Design and Assembly System) and several assembly examples are also given in this paper.
Development of a
Web-Based Academic Time Management System
Zulkifli Mohamed Udin, Ahmad Suki
Che Mohamed Arif, Azmi Md Saman
The web-based application system is being widely used in management organisations. This research paper reports on how web-based technology is used in developing an academic time management system. This prototype system, which is currently used in the School of Information Technology of Universiti Utara Malaysia, has showed significant improvement in time management. Through this web-based application, users can manage their time for traditional meetings, student consultations and lectures. Furthermore, this application enables users to discuss things collaboratively, design projects and conduct meetings through the virtual environment. This research also discovered some constraints and limitations of the system. Finally, an avenue for further research is identified.
Transformation of
Binary Relations
Jamal Said, Eric Steegmans
In the object-oriented paradigm, as the complexity rises, the cost to develop and to maintain software systems grows exponentially. This complexity emerges from the continuous evolution in the software systems to cope with changing requirements. This crucial problem can be dealt with by performing an active transformation of the elements (i.e. classes and relations) of the conceptual model to produce an optimum design model. In this paper we will show transformations for a simple conceptual model consisting of three inter-related classes. Each of these transformations satisfies particular software quality factor(s), from which the software engineer can choose the one that matches the intended non-functional requirements. The added value of this approach is that less manual optimization is required and high maintenance is achieved.